Fourth Generation Inclusive

State of North Carolina, County of Johnston

Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7, 1832

On this 23^rd day of February 1836 personally appeared in open court before the Justices of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions now sitting Holiday Hethcock a resident of Johnston Co and State of North Carolina aged about 74 or 5 years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7, 1832

That he volunteered in the Service of the United States in the summer of 1781 under Jonathan Smith Capt, Jacob Stallings lieut. Alexander Avery Ensign on a service of three month. That he entered the service at Smithfield N. Car. and was marched to Dixon’s Ford on Tar River in the County of Granville thence to Franklin County, thence to Edgccomb Co, thence to Smithfield, thence on to Kinston, then across the River Neuse to Southwest Brun(?) thence up again to Smithfield, thence down the River to Major Crooms where we was discharged having served the full term of three months.  The affiant knows of no documentary evidence to prove his said service, but can prove it by the Rev. Nathan Gully who was with him, and whose certificate is hereunto attached, but whose bodily infirmities do not admit of his travelling to court to give his testimony.  He recd a regular discharge which has been lost.

This affiant had also previously volunteered on another term of five months in Johnston County aforesaid in the fall of the year 1777 and in Matthew Cullers Capt and Lieut Boyte was marched from Smithfield to Richland Chapel, thence across the Cape Fear at Wilmington, thence to Georgetown S.C., to Monk’s Corner, to Dorchester, & to Charleston, and was placed under General Lincoln a few months before Charleston was taken by the enemy.  The General of the Militia under whom he served was named Lillington.  He served out fully his term of five months and recd a discharge from Capt Cullers which discharge has been lost or destroyed.  He knows of no documentary evidence of this said service, but can prove it or a part thereof by Bryant Adams who was his fellow soldier in the Same.

In reply to the prescribed Interrogatories this (1) affiant states that he was born in Northampton Co. Virginia (2) that there is no record of his age, to his knowledge (3) that he was living when called into Service in Johnston Co. No.Ca. that he has since spent about one year in Fayetteville No.Ca. and about 20 years in Orange Co. No.Ca., that he now lives in Johnston (4) that he was volunteer in void his terms of service (5) and (6) answered in Declaration (7) He states the name of the Rev. Jesse Adams John Lee Senr., Colo. John Lee & Wm. B. Allen Esq as gentleman who can testify &c

He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state.

Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid   /s/ Holiday X Hethcock    Test Rm. Sanders

We Jesse Adams a clergyman residing in the neighbourhood of the Declarant in Johnston Co. and Henry Lee residing in the same certify that we are well acquainted with Holiday Hethcock (a free colored man) who has subscribed and sworn to the above Declaration that he is reputed and believed in the neighbourhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revoultion and we concur in the opinion and believe him to be about 74 years of age.

Sworn to and subscribed the day and date above written   /s/ Jesse Adams, Henry Lee

From the file of Holiday Hethcock. Revolutionary War Pensions and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files, National Archives and Records Administration